Morir Soñando (To die dreaming)

I recycle. I recycle newspapers, bottles, cans, aluminum, zip-lock bags. Name it, I recycle it. I carry my own shopping bags to the supermarket. I withstand stares from people on line when I whip them out. Whatever… I don’t care. They can stare all they want.

I do this because care about Mother Earth – And because it’s not like I can just up and inhabit another planet if I help destroy this one; so I try to do my part.

Some of my recycling stems from guilt. You see, I knew about the effects of aerosol. I’ve known about greenhouse emissions since the third grade. I’ve been hearing about the hole in the ozone layer since forever; yet I couldn’t bear to part with my beloved Aqua Net from grades 6-9. Ensuring my do withstood hurricane winds was at the top of my priority list. I did A LOT of damage to this earth. When you slather your SPF 75, blame me. I did that and I am truly sorry.

I didn’t bring you here to talk about this. I brought you here to talk about Morir Soñando.

What?

What’s that?

It’s a drink; If one must translate, it translates to “Die dreaming”. I’m not certain where the name came from – totally before my time. You see, I’m Dominican, and we Dominicans tend to play with words, terms, phrases. It’s part of our culture. Morir Soñando is a traditional Dominican drink. A drink reminiscent, at least to me – of summer. It reminds me of merengue and rum, rapid-fire Spanish – And the phrase “Que lo que, loco?”

That means “what’s up?” We’re saucy folk…

Bet you want to know what this drink consists of? I know, I got you all at the edge of your seats and whatnot. Morir soñando consists of orange juice, milk, sugar and ice. That’s all… No more, no less. It’s tasty and Dominicans DIG.IT.

So…

I recycled it. I took something old and made it new. For you… I’m bringing it back… Like the hula hoop… And leg warmers… And roller skates; but not aquanet. That remains in the blue-haired coifs of 85 year old grandmas.

Alright – Let’s get this started.

You’re going to need freshly squeezed oranges and some orange zest for this. It’s a step up from Tang. Yes, I drank Tang – And so do the astronauts. I ain’t ashamed.

I kicked it up a little with almond milk in addition to whole milk. I love milk from almonds. It’s milky, its almondy… It is truly delicious.

For sweetness I used condensed milk instead of sugar.

You like that?

Yeah?

How about a little more?

Mmmhmmm…

A little vanilla extract and you have something that tastes like a creamsicle…

A dreamy dreamcicle in liquid form. I want to freeze this and turn it into an ice-pop. Let’s revisit this jammy when we’re deep into summer, k?